Buccos Cove

Even after the 4 pm Trade Deadline passed, the Pittsburgh Pirates were busy completing two different deals. They added to both their Big League roster and Minor League roster as they continue to build towards the future. Coming into Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates were expected to be one of the most active teams in the market. However, as the day trickled on the only move the Pirates made sent Minor Leaguer Braeden Ogle to the Philadelphia Phillies for Minor League catcher Abrahan Gutierrez. There were several teams linked to guys like Richard Rodriguez and Chris Stratton, but nothing was materializing. 4 pm came and went, but with deals still coming in, there was still a chance that the Pirates would end up making a move. It came in at around 4:15 pm, but in the end, the Pirates made their moves shipping two relievers to contending teams, with one move expected and the other not. The first of the two moves was the one everyone was expecting. The Pirates sent closer Richard ...

The MLB Trade Deadline has come and gone, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are looking to regroup as they open a new series. They welcome in their cross-state rival Philadelphia Phillies in the first battle for PA since 2019. With the craziness that is the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline in the books, the Pittsburgh Pirates can now relax and focus on baseball. The Pirates were one of the most active teams at the deadline, making three trades over the past week, including 2 moves today. Now, with the roster set for the final two months of the season, Manager Derek Shelton and his team can focus on baseball and not worrying about who is staying and who is going. However, it won't be easy as they welcome in their cross-state rival the Philadelphia Phillies, who are right in the thick of the battle for the NL East title. It is the first baseball battle for PA since 2019, and both teams are looking to gain the advantage. For the Pirates, they are just looking to get their offense going af...

The MLB Trade Deadline is this afternoon at 4 pm, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have been one of the most active teams. We look at some final thoughts and who stays and who goes before 4 pm. It is the time of year when Major League teams are wheeling and dealing either to build their roster now or get it ready for the future. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, they are in sellers mode and have proved that making three trades already this week where they have acquired a total of seven prospects for three Major Leaguers. Of those prospects acquired, two have landed in the Pirates Top 30 prospect list and one, Tucupita Marcano, ended up in the top 10 of the Pirates system. The biggest pieces the Pirates had to offer have already been moved in Adam Frazier and Tyler Anderson, but it doesn't mean Ben Cherington's wheeling and dealing is done. As the Pirates build for the future, they are still looking to add to their bolstered Minor League system. With the trade deadline just hour...

If there is one Pittsburgh Pirates Minor Leaguer that you should have your eye on right now, it is High-A outfielder Matt Frazier. Frazier is crushing the ball, both for power and contact, and is making the case to receive a promotion to Double-A in the near future. With so many moves happening around the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline, it can be hard to keep things straight. There are so many changes going on with the Major League club that the effects on the Minor League teams can sometimes be forgotten. As new prospects filter into the system, they have to find their spot on their new teams while player personnel moves need to be made. As guys are added to their respective Minor League teams, some guys dream of playing Major League Baseball end, while others get one step closer to achieving their goal of making the Big Leagues. While the obvious names like Mason Martin, Cole Tucker, and Oneil Cruz are going to be high on people's watch list, there is another gu...

After the Pirates traded Adam Frazier, Manager Derek Shelton has said the will be several different players getting opportunities. Rodolfo Castro is the first to get a chance and is using the long ball to his advantage. After Sunday's trade of Adam Frazier, the Pittsburgh Pirates had some big shoes to fill at second base. When asked about who would get the opportunity, Manager Derek Shelton said that several different players would get a shot there, with the first being Rodolfo Castro. Castro was called up immediately following the trade for his third trip to the Major League club. The first time, he went 0-1, but he followed it up with a great showing his second time around, hitting .272 with three home runs and four RBI in six games played. However, this time was different as he would be given a shot as the full-time starter at second base. It was do or die as Castro was trying to make his case to stay in the Big Leagues full-time. After going 0-3 in his first start a...

After almost being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, Tyler Anderson's trade became finalized late last night when the Pirates sent him to the Seattle Mariners. The Pirates get two prospects in return to help out in the lower levels of the Minor Leagues, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington had a busy day on Tuesday with the MLB Trade Deadline looming just three days away. It started in the afternoon as the Pirates scratched Tyler Anderson from his start, and presumably had a deal in place to send him to the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the deal ended up falling through when one of the Phillies' prospects had problems with their physicals. So, chaos ensued as Anderson was seen in the Pirates bullpen in Pirate gear, and Luis Oviedo was now tabbed to make his first career MLB start. Throughout Tuesday night's opener, there were questions as to whether or not Tyler Anderson was a Phillie or still a Pirat...

In a night where the Pittsburgh Pirates had nothing to cheer about, one guy was a shining light. Cody Ponce had a breakout game and is hoping to use the momentum to earn a spot in the starting rotation. Last night was a night to forget for the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park when they welcomed in the Milwaukee Brewers. They were tagged for eight runs in the first two innings, and the offense never showed a spark as the Pirates fell 9-0. To make matters worse the Pirates ended up trading Tyler Anderson, the guy who was supposed to start last night's game, hours before. While the Anderson trade was on hold due to medical problems with one of the Phillies players, the Pirates ended up picking up their 62nd loss of the season. Even on a dark day at the park, there was one shining light that gave the Pirates something to look forward to. Cody Ponce was newly called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace the traded Clay Holmes. Ponce entered the game in the fourth inning whe...

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a surprise move when they sent reliever Clay Holmes to the New York Yankees. They got two players in return who look to add to their prospect depth while trying to contribute to their new organization. When you look at the names that were on the trading block for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season there were some names that have been going around. Among them were Adam Frazier, Tyler Anderson, and even Richard Rodriguez. However, one name that hasn't really been discussed at least in the public eye is reliever Clay Holmes. Holmes was released by the Pirates in the off-season but was re-signed on a Minor League deal. It was Holmes's last chance with the Pirates, and he came through making the Opening Day roster. He was putting together a solid season, appearing in 44 games going 3-2 with a 4.93 ERA over 42 innings of work while walking 25 and striking out 44. However, as General Manager, Ben Cherington proved today that even some...

After the Pittsburgh Pirates traded second baseman Adam Frazier yesterday, it has left a hole at second base this season. We look at who might get the call and a chance to play every day in Pittsburgh for the rest of the season. After much anticipation throughout the season, the Adam Frazier trade finally happened as the Pirates sent their All-Star second baseman to the San Diego Padres. In return, they got a package of prospects that are all 22 years of age or younger, and look to make an impact on the future of this team. However, in the present, it is a blow to the team as they lose their leadoff hitter and a Gold Glove-caliber second baseman. However, when you are in a rebuild, you have to be able to let go of good players for the good of stocking the farm system, and General Manager Ben Cherington has stuck to this plan. In the short term, the Pirates will be giving opportunities to some of their younger guys to give them a shot to lay claim to second base for the rest...

Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Pirates made the first major trade of the MLB Trade Deadline when they sent Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres. They got three prospects in return, including the #5 prospect in the San Diego Padres system. With the Pittsburgh Pirates being towards the bottom of the MLB in terms of record, we knew that some of the biggest stars were going to be moved. The first shoe dropped on Sunday when they traded second baseman Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres. In return, they brought back the Padres #5 prospect Tucupita Marcano, outfielder Jake Suwinski (AA), and relief pitcher Michell Miliano (A+). The move was sort of a surprise in terms of how early the move happened, but General Manager Ben Cherington saw the players he wanted and went out and got them. Along with Frazier, they also sent 1.24 million over to complete the deal. The biggest piece in this deal, and the only one with Big League experience, was shortstop Tucupita Marcano. Marcano was repor...

The Pittsburgh Pirates offense exploded for 10 runs and a season-high 16 hits in last night's 10-2 win over the San Francisco Giants. It was a breakout game for Kevin Newman and Gregory Polanco, as each are hoping to get back on track. After taking a sweep in Arizona, it looked like things were about to go really bad for the Pirates. They were about to take on the best team in baseball and had already lost four games in a row. However, the Pirates have turned the tide and taken the first two games of the series, as they look for their first sweep of the year on Sunday. However, Saturday night they took it to the next level as they pounded out a season-high 16 hits in a 10-2 win over the Giants. Of the nine guys in the Pirates lineup, six had multi-hit games and every starter except Ke'Bryan Hayes and Wil Crowe each got at least one hit. However, two guys in the lineup performed above and beyond, and they are hoping it can be a breakout game to get them back on track...

Throughout the season, and the last couple years for that matter, there has been a notion that the Pirates play down, or up, to the level of their competition. We dive into this idea and see if it is true and how it is affecting the Pirates. The 2021 season has been a rollercoaster ride with some of the highest highs, like Stallings walk-off grand slam, and some of the lowest lows, like the 20-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Even recently, we have seen the Pirates play some of the best baseball this season followed by some of the worst. When the Pirates were playing the New York Mets after the all-star break, they played very well, taking two of the three games in the series and outscored the Mets 19-15. They combined to go 6-4 against the top two teams in the NL East and helped change the rankings in the NL East. However, they turned around and got swept by the worst team in baseball and we're outscored 21-12. Then, the Pirates came back and beat the beat team in basebal...

After a slow start to the season, and an injury that forced him to miss a month, there were questions on Chad Kuhl's trade value. With his recent resurgence, we look at whether or not the right-hander will still be a Pirate after the July 30th Trade Deadline. Last season, one of the Pittsburgh Pirates who was drawing a lot of trade interest was starting pitcher Chad Kuhl. In his return from Tommy John surgery, the right-hander was looking strong posting a 2.52 ERA prior to the August 31st trade deadline. Reportedly, the Toronto Blue Jays had a lot of interest in the then 28-year-old's services, but they were unwilling to give up their top catching prospect Alejandro Kirk in the deal. So, Kuhl remained a Pirate and earned the right to be the Opening Day starter in 2021. However, it was a struggle for Kuhl early on, as he couldn't command his pitches and even ended up on the IL. It looked as though all his trade value was lost and that he would not be garnering as...